Report of Meetings for 1887. By J. Hartly. 67 



The castles at Windydpors, Lugato Water, and Muirhouse, I know 

 nothing about, further than that they have the same apparent character as 

 other Border keeps. A chalybeate spring exists beside ' Luxate castle ;' 

 marked on the Ordnance Survey Map. The surface water is strongly tinged 

 by carbonate of iron. 



As regards churches and church buildings, 1 believe that the disused Parish 

 Church was — in its original form — the church dedicated to the Virgin, 

 endowed with a portion of the true cross by Arthur, (hence the medieval 

 sanctuary of Wedale), and in which Clement, Bishop of Dunblane was con- 

 secrated in 1233 (r. Spottiswoode's list of Bishops in Vol. I. of his 

 History, p. 214). My reasons for so thinking are (1.) the insufficient size of 

 the so-called chapel at Torsonce, quite inadequate to the consecration of a 

 Bishop, or the renown of the Stow of Wedale. (2.) The evident antiquity 

 of the lower portion of the walls of the old Parish Church. The style of 

 building, masons' marks on each squared stone, and massive character of 

 the foundation appear to be quite medieval. (3.) The extreme reverence 

 iu which it must have been held in the middle age. A perfect layer of 

 human remains was dug up under the floor, and was specially deep and 

 thick at the east end, near the altar. The sepulture of so many genera- 

 tions indicates — does it not ?■ — the sanctity of the spot. I am not aware of 

 any remains ever having been found at Torsonce chapel, and although the 

 Mary Well is there, that does not imply the previous existence of more 

 than itself, dedicated to the Patron saint of the place. I know that many 

 local antiquaries hold that the ancient church and sanctuary were at 

 Torsonce. 1 am inclined to think otherwise. The Stow of Wedale, town, 

 sanctuary, church and hall, have always been in my opinion, just where 

 they are still. 



The Bishop's station or whatever else it may be termed, was once the 

 residence of a Mr Borthwick, who acted as Baron Bailie in Stow. He was 

 a cadet of the house of Borthwick of Crookston. My information on this 

 point is derived from the present proprietor of Crookston, who spoke quite 

 positively on the point and must have means of knowing about it. That 

 Baron Bailie is styled " my Lord Borthwick" iu the K. Session Records. 

 Another version of its history, or rather a modification of the above backed 

 up I believe by (he K. S. Records, is to this effect that the building was 

 once the manse, but having become ruinous, the heritors gave to the 

 minister instead the residence of " Lord Borthwick" with his consent, 

 which residence of his now constitutes the manse. From the extreme age 

 of the manse, as evidenced by the thick walls, I should think this a likely 

 story. As to the wretchedly planned and constructed old " biggin" ever 

 having served as a residence of the Archbishop of St Andrews, whose 

 retinue would have occupied half the present village, the idea is absurd, and 

 could only have originated in the ignorant fancy of somebody wishing to 

 magnify the ruin and make it honourable. 



A curious chapter in the history of agrarian law in our country might be 

 read out of the old Stow Common. Unlike their neighbours of Lauder, 

 the inhabitants of the metropolis of Wedale had no charter to assure them 



